Improvement in plows



J. GELWIER.

improvement in Flows. No. 131,434, I Patented Sep.17,1872.

UNITED STATESPA'IENT Qrrron.

JOSEPH GILMER, OF MONTIGELLO, FLORIDA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,434, dated September 17, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GILMER, of Monticello, in the county of Jefferson and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flows; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my plow. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation, of the concave or gouge-point of the plowshare.

My invention consists, first, in a concave or gouge-shaped point for the plowshare, to reduce the quantity of power required to open the furrow; second, in handles made adjustable in height to suit the stature of different operatives; third, in the manner of adjusting the height and angle of the plow-beam.

That others may fully understand my invention I will particularly describe it.

It is well known in mechanics that aconcave edge will penetrate much more easily than the same length of cut when made so as to present an angular edge. Thus a gouge will penetrate with much greater ease than an angular chisel would do, and the hollow-lipped auger penetrates much more easily than the old-fashioned square-bit auger. The same principle holds good when applied to aplow, the principal resistance to which is experienced at the severing edge of the share, and the large portion of this at the point where an angular cut is effected by the ordinary plow. To diminish to the lowest possible quantity the resistance at the point of the share I make the cuttingedge of said point hollow or concave, like a gouge, as shown at Ain Figs. 4 and 5, and the soil is then penetrated with much less resistance than is experienced with the ordinary flat or angular points.

There is a certain height from the ground at which every man can most conveniently employ his hands, and, of course, this convenient position will hardly be at the same distance from the ground with any two persons; I have, therefore, made the handles of my plow adjustable, so that the attendant may arrange them at the pointwhich he finds most convenient or best calculated to permit him to control the plow most effectively. To this end I pivot the height of the team, and this is usually accomplished by means of a clevis at the fore end of the beam, which permits the required adjustment. This mode of adjustment is imperfect because the strain is brought upon the beam from a different direction at each change of the clevis I have, therefore, made my plowbeam adjustable to accomplish the same purpose, and am, therefore, enabled to dispense with a clevis, and employ a simple hook, F, at

thefore end of the plow-beam. The plow-beam G I prefer to make of metal, and curved in the manner shown, so that its rear end may be attached to the beam low down toward the share and thus depress as much as possible the point of draft at the rear end and reduce the strain upon the joints. At the forward end it is clamped fast to the brace H by means of a setscrew, it, which passes through a slot made in one of said parts, and, when said screw is relaxed, permits them to move upon each other, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that the hook F may be raised or lowered and fixed at the proper point to adjustthe draft. At their rear ends the beam G and the brace H pass through the post E, and are secured bynuts behind said post. These nuts should be loosened before any change of adjustment of the beam G is made. At the rear side of the post E I place an adjustable shoe, I, which may be set up or down upon said post by means of the nuts and screws 9, so that the point A of the share may have a greater or less inclination, as may be required by the character of the soil. A landside bar may be employed, if required, or if 'plowin g in stiff soil.

It will be observed that different kinds of plowshares may be employed with this plowframe, and all necessary adjustments are provided to enable it to be adapted to any kind of plowshare which it may be desirable to use, such as a shovel, scraper, &c.

, Having described my invention, what I claim 3. In'combination with the post E the beam as new is 1 G and slotted brace H, with suitable binding- 1. A gouge or concave point, substantially screws to render said beam adjustable, in the as described, in combination with a plow moldmanner substantially as set forth.

board, as set forth. J. GILMER.

2. The slottedrpost E and slotted plate 0, Witnesses: with suitable binding-screws, in combination R. D. 0. SMITH,

with thehandles B B, substantially as set forth. E. R. MGKEAN. 

